Washer feeding device



Feb. 17, 1942.

c. J. IRWIN WASHER FEEDING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 3, 1940 I i I I i i? CM 718.! .5704? Q m /0sora i Feb. 17, 1942. c. IRWIN 2,273,782

WASHER FEEDING DEVICE Filed 0st. 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 17, 1942. ..J. IRWIN 2,273,782

WASHER FEEDING. DEVICE Filed 001,. 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 -96 flG-fl -98 Patented Feb. 17,1942

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE wnsimn FEEDING DEVICE Charles LI. Irwin, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application October ii, 1940, Serial No. 359,542

Claims. This invention relates to a machine or mechapreventing the washers from pilingup or bunching on the feed member or disc.

It is a further objectof the invention to provide a washer feed' device having a shiftable washer feed member or disc and means to cause the washers to be' properly seated in predeter-i mined individual positions on the shiftable washnism for assembling screws and washers, and

er feed member or disc for conveyance to a predetermined point and to cause each of the washers to be positioned in a predetermined manner at said point.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide in combination with a recessed washer feed disc or shiftable mer'n'ber means to prevent the washers from jumping out of the recesses as the disc or shiftable member is operated.

The invention also 'contemplatesthe provision of means cooperating with a recessed washer feed disc or member to insure positioning of a single washer in each recess and its proper seating therein and to prevent interlocking of other washerswith the washer so positioned or seated.

Itis also an object of the invention to provide a washerfeed device including a hopper receiv ing a mass of washers anda disc or shiftable member operating beneath the mass toreceive washers therefrom, and means cooperating with the disc or member to insure the feeding of the received washers in individual succession into a predetermined position at a predetermined point.

edge along the feeding surface and pile up against the hopper wall.

It is therefore an important object of applicants invention to provide in a device for feeding countersunk washers, means tending to pre-- vent the stacking of the washers; and acting if a stack is formed to separate the washers from the stack so that they may be properly fed.

It is also an object of this invention to devise Crown washers, i. e., washers having outwardly Figure 5,

from a mass in individual succession to a mechanism'for assembling such washers-with screws .to produce unit assemblies of an internal tooth loci; washer and a screw.

A further object of the invention is to provide machine or .mechanism'embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 3'3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation and partly in section of an assembled screw and lock washer unit manufactured by a machine or mechanism for which the device of the present invention is adapted;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan taken along the line 55 of Figure 3 and showing the construction of the washer feed disc;

portion of the washer feed disc;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical Figure 13 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the washer feed disc of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line ll-ll of'Figure 12 Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view similar to feed disc;

a device for feeding internal tooth lock washers 66 Figure 16 is a fragmentary plan view similar Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of another butshowing another form of washer with the washer along the chute l2.

to Figure 5, but showing still another form of washer feed .disc.

As shown in Figures 1 to '3, screw elements or blanks 2 are fed to the assembly mechanism 4 along the inclined gravity feed chute G composed ring 54 are inclined, preferably at the same angle as the guide chutes 6 and I2 and the common axis of the disc and plate or ring is coincident with the axis of the shell 50 and this common axis extends substantially at right angles to the parallel longitudinalledges or surfaces of the guide chutes 6 and 12.

The tubular shell 50 may be secured to a hollow generally cylindrical member or housing 56 as by elements or blanks assembled with washers are conveyed by an inclined chute l2 composed of spaced bars l4 and I6. By the chute l2 these assembled units may be carried to an enlarging, extruding, or thread rolling mechanism as shown in said Hanneman patent.

The assembly mechanism 4 may be of any suitable construction receiving a screw element at the lower end of the chute 6, moving downwardly to telescope the element into a washer and position it at the upper end of the chute l2 and then releasing the element for conveyance Preferably this assembly mechanism is of the construction disclosed in the application of Walter face 26 causing a desired opening movement of the jaw members as they approach their upper limit of movement and also carries an abutment or collar 28 causing a desired opening movement of the jaw members as they approach their lower limit of movement. A slide rod 3il'for engaging the head of a screw clamped in the jaw members is slidably mounted in the bar or sleeve 20 and is operated by a lever 32. As the slide rod 30 moves downwardly it engages the head of the screw element and causes the jaw members holding the screw element to move downwardly The tubular guide 22 is carried by a bracket 34 adjustably secured at its outer end to a base casting or support 36. downwardly by a spring 38 secured atone end to the lever and at the other end to the bracket.

Rotary cam 40 moves the lever upwardly and controls its downward movement. The cam operates up0n.the lever through a slide pin 42 mounted in the bracket 34 and engaging a set screw 44 carried by the lever.

Washers are conveyed or supplied to the as- I sembly point, in the path of movement of screw elements carried by the jaw members i8, by a combined hopper and washer feed mechanism 46. The washer hopper 48 which in detail may be p of the construction disclosed in the application of William Stern, Serial No. 277,344, filed June 5, 1939, or the application of Ougljesa Jules Poupitch, Serial No. 282,517, filed July 1, 1939, includes an inclined annular washer retaining wall member or shell 50. A portion of the 'shell 50 is cut away in the line of the guide chutes so that one vertical edge of the wall at the cut away portion abuts the outer surface of the guide bar I0 and the corresponding opposite edge of the cut away portion abuts the outer surface of the guide .ring 54. The disc 52 and its supporting plate or iii interfltting with the rabbeted upper edge of the housing (Figure 3). The ring or plate 54 is supported upon the upper edge of the housing within the tubular shell 50 (as seen in Figure 3). The annular wall of the housing 56 and the ring or plate 54 are cut away so that they abut the upper ends of the guide bars I4 and I6 and extend along the outer surface of the guide bar it.

The disc 52 is rotated, preferably intermittently, by any suitable operating mechanism 58 which may be of the construction disclosed in the above-mentioned application of Ougljesa Jules Poupitch.

The disc 52 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses or notches 60 extending radially with respect to the axis of the disc. Washers dumped into the hopper accumulate in a mass in the lower portion of the hopper. The disc 52 is preferably rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figures 1, 5, 6 and 9 to carry the washers first in an upward direction out of the mass and then the washers, having been properly seated in the recesses, are carried outwardly of the hopper to the point of assembly and onto the bars of the guide chute I2 adjacent their upper ends. It should be noted that the ring or plate 54 extends beneath the washer receiving notches 60 of the disc so as to hold the washers in these notches as against downward movement and guide thewashers onto the bars i4 and 16, the upper surface of the ring or plate 54 lying in a common plane with the upper surface of the bars l4 and it. As the disc is rotated, wash- 'ers properly seated in the recesses of the disc The lever 32 is moved are carried'along the ring or plate 54 andonto the guide bars l4 and I6 beneath the assembly mechanism 4. After the screw elements or blanks have been assembled with the washers, the continued rotation of the disc carries the assembled screws and washers downwardly along the guide bars l4 and IS a short distance when the washers are extracted from the recesses of the disc by being confined against further angular movement due to the interfittingof the shank of the screw element between the guide bars. Thus as the disc rotates after the screws and washers have been assembled, the assembled units are caused to move along a path tangent tothe circular path of movement of the centers of the recesses in the feed disc. In order to facilitate extraction or ejection of the washers from the feed disc by the bars 0 the guide chute I 2, the rear defining edge of ca h recess is'cut away or curved rearwardly as at 62 so that there will be no tendency for the washers to become jammed between the forward-and rear edges of the recesses as they are being extracted or ejected therefrom. The rounding of these edges as at 62 serves an additional purpose as will later appear.

A lug 64 is secured to the disc adjacent each recess 60. Each lug is formed to provide a portion or lip'66 overlying the adjacent recess along one side, preferably the rear side of the recess. As shown in Figures 1 to 11, each lug is also formed to provide a flat upper surface portion 68, forward bevelled or tapering faces 18, I2 and 14, and rear faces 16 and 18 extending substantially at right angles to the surface of the disc 52. The bevelled faces and I2 cooperate to provide the lip or overhanging portion 68 and the forward portion of the face 10 is cut away or recessed along the edge 88 to reduce the area of the overhanging lip or portion 86.

It should be noted that the disc 52 is of a thickness substantially equal, although slightly greater, than the thickness of the main body porand the inertia of the stacked washers cause the washers to move over the lugs as in Figure 11 tion 82 of each washer so that this main body a portion of a washer may be received within a recess between the lip 68 and the surface of the ring or plate 54. While therefore there is a sumcient distance between the lip 88 and the surcausing the center or center of gravity of the washer tobe positioned above the recess between the lugs so that a washer received between the lugs tends by its own weight to become tilted as shown in Figure 7. The rotation of the disc and the inertia of the washer will then cause the washer to move into "the recess between the lugs and to lie beneath the overhanging lip '86.

82 of the washer that upward movementof the.

and due to the formation of the lug faces, the stack is broken up and the washers separated so. that they he flat on the surface of the feed disc. If a washer is or becomes positioned on the disc with its crown portion 84 extending downwardly insteadof upwardly, the washer may reach the position shown-in Figure 6, but it will vnot of course become tilted into the position shown in Figure 7. Hence it cannot pass under a lip 88 and therefore at some time before it reaches the assembly mechanism will gravitate along the disc and strike some lug or other member which causes it to be turned into the proper position on the disc or it will be returned to the mass of washers in the lower part of the hopper. The rear edges 18 and 18 of the lugs, since they extend substantially at right angles to the face of the disc and are not-bevelled or tapered in a vertical direction, prevent any loose washers which may be carried to the top portion of the hopper from rolling on edge or sliding flatwise over the lugs and out of the hopper through the cut away wall portion of the hopper shell.

Each lug extends to the periphery of the disc so that it will terminate in close juxtaposition to the annular wallor shell of the hopper and The lug' faces 18, I2 and 14 which are bevelled or tapered downwardly inthe direction of movemerit of the feed disc direct the washers to the position shown in Figure 6 wherein they rest between the rear edge or surface 16 of one lug'and the lip 86 of the following lug and abut or rest against the annular wall member or shell 50 of the hopper. The tapered face 12 of each lu'g provides awedge which prevents interlocking of a second washer with a washer in a recess be-. neath the lip 88 and also acts to caus'ejfthe second washer to be released-"or separated-from the selected washer as the latter movesunder' the lip into its proper seat in the recess. A face 12 having released or separated a second washer from the washer seated under the lip, the released washer will gravitate along the disc into an unoccupied recess or back into the mass at the lower portion of the hopper.

The lug faces 14 and I8 converge inwardly of the inner edge of the adjacent recess. The face 18 of one lug forms with the face ll of the following lug an enlarged washer directing passage converging toward the recess between the lugs so as to cause a washer as it gravitates along the disc to pass to the position shown in Figure 6. The tapered forward lug faces III, 12 and 14 c0- operate with the lug faces 68, I6 and 18 to provide means tending to prevent crow-n type washers from bunching or piling up in the position shown in Figure 10 and acting to break up any such stack of washersthat may be formed. Crown type washers have a tendency to become interlocked or pile up as shown inFigure 10 with the crown of one washer received inthe depressed crown forming portion of another washer spring 88 is prevented.

thereby carry the washers along the wall of the hopper as in Figure 11 and lation against this wall.

The lugs are provided with outwardly open- I ing recesses 88 extending inwardly from the periphery of the disc to permit inward movement of th finger 88 of a washer detector 88 which may be of the construction disclosed in the Hanneman, stem, or Poupitch applications abovementioned. It suflice's to observe that it comprises the finger 88 which is positioned to engage the rim of a washer at the assembly point, l

but if no washer is in a recess of the disc at the assembly point, the finger projects into the re-- cess and is interposed as an abutment in the path of a screw carried by e assembly mechanism so thatdownward movement or operation of the assembly mechanism under the action of the The washer detector I finger therefore prevents actuation of the assembly mechanism when there. is no washer in position at the assembly point and thereby prevents feeding of a washerless screw blank to the guide chute i2. The recess 88 provides a clearance 'space for this washer detector.

' rounded, rear, outer edge 82 of each recess also provides a cam surface engaging the finger 88 and returning it to its outer position as the disc,

rotates. 'W

.The washer feed disc 52 is also provided with a plurality of angular-1y spaced bars or I'll) forming, portions 8| extending tangentially from a common imaginary circle to points of merger with equally spaced ones of the lugs Gil-and 8,4. Each bar 8| is formed to provide a forward face 82 extending substantially at right angles to the surface of the disc and a bevelled face 84 tapering downwardly. in a direction opposite to the a direction of rotation of the disc. The bars 8| divide the surface of the disc into .a plurality of sectors or sections each including a plurality of washer receiving recesses and interposed lugs 64. The abrupt face 82 of each bar prevents the and to. collect in a stack or stacks wherein the washers reston their edge and pile up against the annular wall of. the hopper. If such a stack of washers is formed, the rotation of the disc 82 washers from sliding on their flat faces from one sector to. another during the time that the washers are being moved from the lower part of the hop r to the upper partof the hopper in order prevent their accumu-" Thev 'struction of the washer directing lugs.

.tion to simplify the construction of these lugs.

Thus these lugs I20 are formed to provide tapering faces I22 and I24 and abrupt faces I26 operation and at the same time increase the possibility of their becoming seated in a recess from which a washer assembled with a screw element has just been extracted. In other words, the bars SI, by reason of their disposition and configuration, serve to so distribute the washers as to increase the opportunity for the washers to become seated in the recesses and thereby insure that each recess, by the time it reaches the assembly point, will have a washer seated properly therein.

. In the form shown in Figures 12 to 14, advantage is taken of the difference in form between a flat internal tooth lock washer arid a crown type washer to simplify the shape or con- As shown in this embodiment. the disc 52 is provided between each recess 80 with a lug 98 which is relativel thinner than the corresponding lug 64 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11. The lug 86 is formed to provide a flat upper surface 88, forward abrupt faces I to I02, rear abrupt faces I04 and I08 and outer abrupt face I08, the abrupt faces extending substantially at right angles to the surface of the disc 52. The face I00 cooperates with the face I00 to form a lip or portion IIO overhanging the recess along the rear side thereof. The lip I I0 corresponds to the lip 66 of the form shown in Figures 1 to 11'. The face I04 of one lug 88 is spaced from the forward face I00 of the following lug a distance suflicient to accommodate a washer therebetween, while at the same time to cause the center of gravity of the washer to be positioned over the recess so that the washer will be tilted and due to its inertia slide'into the recess. as the disc rotates and thereby to be positioned under the.

lip' H0. The faces I08 and I02 of adjacent lugs diverge inwardly of the recesses so as to form an enlarged throat or washer directing passage for causing the washers to assume the position between-the faces I04 and I00 of the adiacent lugs. It should be noted that the lug 86 terminates in its face I08 inwardly of the periphery of.

As shown in Figure 15, the main body portion of the crowntype washer II. has opposed rounded end edges H2 and opposedflat side edges II4.- To accommodate this odd-shaped washer, the feed disc I'I8 is provided with angularly spaced outwardly opiiingpei-ipheral recesses II8 having a longer axis extending radially of the disc, the recess being shaped to conform to the shape of the washers.

tween-the recesses. Advantage is taken of the fact that the washers are to be seated with their flat edges extending in a generally radial direcand I28, the faces I28 and I28 extending substantially at right angles to the surface of the disc and the faces I24 and I28 converging inwardly of the disc recesses. Since these crown type washers tend to pile up and stand on edge against or along the hopper wall, the face I22 of each lug. is extended to the periphery of the disc and the lug is provided with a recess similar to the recess 86 to provide a clearance space for the washer detector finger 88. It should be observed that the face I26 of each lug is inclined at an outwardly diverging angle to the generally radial forward flat edge of the following recess II8 so as to cooperate with the faces I22 and I24 in causing the washer to be positioned with its flat edges extending radially rather than circumferentially relative to the disc and to cause the center or center of gravity of the washer to be positioned over the recess and hence become tilted and move under the lip or overhanging portion I30. The face I24 cooperates with the faces I28 and I28 of the preceding lug to direct the washers into the space between the lip and the face I26 of said preceding lug withthe flat edges of the washer directed in a generally radial direction. It should be noted that the recessed'fiat edge I32 of each lug I20 extends in the same generally vertical plane with the rear flat edge of the washer receiving recess II8 so or chordally of the disc as seen in Figure 16. For example, because of the shape or dimensions of the odd-shaped washer, it may be found convenient to feed the washers as shown in Figure or again it may be desired to have the.

washers positioned with their flat sides extending lengthwise of the feed chute I2 when posi-'- tioned at the assembly point. Again, with certain size washers, it maybe found that the washers may be more readily extracted from the disc recesses if the washers are positioned as shown in Figure 16. In this form of the invention, the

' washer receiving recesses I34 of the disc I86 each have an inner flat edge I38, opposed rounded edge portions.l40 conforming to the rounded edges II4 of the washer and merging into flat edge portions I42. The flat edge portion I42 merges into the outer curved edge I44 facilitating the withdrawal movements of the washers from the recesses after they have been assembled with the screw elements and providing a. cam edge which as the disc rotates engages and moves the washer detector finger outwardly-if awasher is not seated'in the recess.

In view of the fact thatthe washers are to be seated with their rounded edges engaging the opposed forward and rear edges of the recesses,

ing and retaining lugs 84 of the form shown in Washer directing and retaining lugs I20 are secured beoverlies its associatedrecess a-distance-approxi-s in a predetermined manner at said point.

. fairly fall within portion of the washer to be assembled. 'If this lip extends over the recess a distance substan tially less than the thickness of the washer, its effect in retaining the washer in the recess as against vertical movement or jumping" out of the recess will begreatly diminished. If the lip is extended over the-edge'of the recess a distance substantiallly greater than the thickness of the washer, there is a tendency for the washer to jam underneath the lip without becoming seated in the recess.

of washers to be fed and having outwardly opening edge recesses receiving washers from the surface of the plate, washer directing lugs upstanding from the surface of said plate between said recesses and each having a portion thereof projecting over an adjacent recess to hold a washer in the recess.

2. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers It will be evident from. the foregoing description that applicant has provided a machine or from piling up or bunching on the discs.

' Applicant further provides in his invention a washer feed disc having a shiftable washer feed a member or disc and means to cause the washers to be properlyseated in predetermined individual positions on the shiftable washer feed member or disc for conveyance to a predetermined point and causing each of the washers to be positioned The invention also provides means cooperating with a recessed washer feed disc or member to insure positioning of a. single washer in each recess and its proper seating therein and to 'pre-- vent interlocking" of other washers with the washer so positioned or seated. More particularly the invention providesin combination with a recessed washer feed disc or shiftable member means to prevent the washers Applicant has also provided a washer feed device including a hopper receiving a mass of washers and a disc or shiftable member operating 'beneath the mass to receive washers therefrom, and meanscooperating with the disc or member to insure the feeding of the received termined position to a predetermined point.

The invention further provides in a device for feeding countersunk washers means tending to prevent the stacking of washers and acting if a stack is formed to separate the washers from the stack so that they may be properlyfed.

The invention also provides a device for feeding internal tooth lock washers from a mass in individual succession to a mechanism for assembling such washers with screws to produce a unit assembly of an internal tooth lock washer and a screw. I I

Applicant" has further provided a device or to be fed and having angularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses receiving washers from the supply on the surface of-the disc, washer directing lugs upstandingfrom the surface of said disc between said'recesses and each having a portion thereof projecting over an adjacent recess to hold the washer in the recess. during rotation of the'disc'.

3. Washer feeding means comprising a hopper having an inclined bottom wall section, said bottom wall section comprising a rotary disc projecting from the hopper for carrying washers out of the hopper, said rotary disc having a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers in the hopper gravitate, and a plurality of lugs upstanding from the surface of the disc and each having a portion projecting over an adjacent,

recess from the rear edge thereof to prevent the washers from jumping outof the recesses as the disc rotates.

4.- Washer feeding means comprising an inclined disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and having a plurality of an- .gularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers gravitate from the surface of the disc, washer directing lugs upstanding from the surface of the disc between said recesses and having opposed upstanding faces converging outwardly toform a flaring passage directing the'washers toward the recesses, each of said lugs having a portion projecting over the adjacent-recess from the rear edge thereof to prevent washers from jumping out of the recesses as the disc is rotated.

' 5. Washer feeding means comprising an inclined disc receiving on its surface a'supply of washers to be fed and having a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers gravitate from the mechanism for feeding or conveying internal tooth lock washers, particularly such washers of the crown type, from a receptacle or hopper con-" taining a random mass of such washers.

Changes may be made .in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without desurface of the disc, washer directing lugs" upstanding from the surface of the disc between said recesses and having opposed upstanding faces converging outwardly to form a flaring passagedirecting the washers toward the recesses, each of said lugs having a portion proje'cting over the adjacent recess from the rear edge thereof to prevent washers from jumping out of'the recesses as the disc is rotated, the rear faces of the lugs being spaced from the forward edges of thefollowing recesses sufliciently to accommodate washers between adjacent lugs with their centers of gravity over the recesses whereby as the disc rotates, the washers become tilted and moveinto the recesses under the projecting portions of said lugs. Y

6. Washer feeding means comprising a'rotary disc. receiving on its surface a supply of, washers to be fed and having outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers move as the disc rotates, lugs upstanding from the surface of said disc between said recesses and each having its forward edgeprojecting over the adiacentrecess to hold a washer in said recess, the forward face of each lug being bevelled upwardly and rearwardly from the surface of'the disc.

'7. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and having outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers move as the disc rotates, lugs upstanding from the surface of said disc between said recesses and each having its forward edge projecting over the adjacent recessto hold awasher in said recess, the forward face of each lug being bevelled upwardly and rearwardly from the surface of the disc, the rear faces of the lugs being shaped to provide shoulders preventing washers lying flat on the surface of the disc from passing over the lugs in the direction of rotation of the disc.

8. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and having outwardly opening peripheral recesses into which the washers move as the disc rotates, lugs upstanding from the surface of said disc between said recesses and each having its forward edge projecting over the adjacent recess to hold a washer in said recess, the forward face ofeach lug being bevelledupwardly and rearwardly from the surface of the disc, said lugs having opposite upstanding face portions converging inwardly of the disc to form :between adjacent lugs a flaring throat directing washers in the spaces between adjacent lugs. l

9. Washer feeding means comprising a rotary disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and having angularly spaced outwardly opening peripheral recesses receiving washers from the supply on the surface of the disc, washer directing lugs upstanding from .the surface of said disc between said recesses and each having a portion thereof projecting over an adjacent recess to hold the washer in the recess during rotation of the disc, and angularly spaced ribs projecting upwardly from the surface of the disc and extending to spaced ones of said lugs to subdivide the surface of the disc into sections, the forward faces of said ribs being shaped to form ledges holding the washers lying on the surface of the disc against rearward movement from section to section as the disc rotates, said ribs also having rear faces bevelled from the surface of the disc to permit washers on the disc to pass forwardly from section to section as the disc rotates.

10. Means ,for feeding crown type washers comprising a washer hopper having an inclined rotary disc forming the bottom wall section thereof, said hopper having an annular upstanding wall portion with an opening therein through which the disc projects to carry washers out of the hopper to .a discharge point, said disc having a plurality of angularly spaced recesses of a size to receive the main body portion of the crown washers with the crowns of the washers extending upwardly, lugs between said recesses and having portions forming lips projecting over the edges of adjacent recesses to prevent washers with their crowns extending downwardly from becoming seated in the recesses.

11. Means for feeding crown type washers comprising a washer hopper having an inclined rotary disc forming the bottom wall section thereof, said hopper having an annular upstanding wall portion with an opening therein through which the disc projects to carry washers out of the hopper to a discharge point, said disc having a plurality of angularlyspaced recesses of a size to receive the main body portion of the crown washers with the crowns of the washers extending upwardly, lugsbetween the recesses, each lug having a portion forming a lip extending over an adjacent recess and each lug having an opposite face portion spaced from the next adjacent recess suiliciently to cause a washer to be positioned between adjacent lugs w th its center of gravity over the recess between the lugs to cause a washer with its crown extending upwardly to become tilted and to move into the recess under the lip of an adjacent lug, the lip forming portions of the lugs preventing washers with their crowns-extending upwardly from becoming seated in the recess. 1

12. Means for feeding washers having opposed flat sides, said means comprising a rotary disc having a plurality of outwardly opening peripheral recesses for receiving washers from a mass on the surface of a disc, said recesses having opposed flat sides extending generally radially of the disc, lugs between the recesses and upstanding from the surface of the disc, said lugs each having an edge'coincident with the edge of an adjacent recess and a portion forming a lip projecting from saidvedge dfthe recess over the recess to hold the washer in the recess and' each lug having an opposite upstanding face portion spaced from the edge of an adjacent recess sufliciently to cause a washer to become tilted and move into the recess under the lip forming portion of the adjacent lug with the flat sides of the washer extending in the same direction,

as the flat sides of the recess.

13. Means for feeding washers having opposed flat'sides, said means comprising a rotary disc having a plurality of outwardly opening peripheral recesses for receiving washers from a mass on the surface of a disc, saidrecesses having 01)- posed flat sides extending generally radially of the disc, lugs between the recesses and upstanding from the surface of the disc, said lugs each having an edge coincident with th edge of an adjacent recess and a portion forming a, lip projetting from said edge of the recess over the recess to. hold the washer in the recess and each lug having an opposite upstanding face portion spaced from the edge of an adjacent recess sufficiently' to cause a washer to become tilted and move into the recess under the lip forming portion of the adjacent lug with the flat sides of the washer extending in the same direction as the fiat sides of the recess, the upper faces of the lugs being tapered upwardly from the lip forming edge portion of each lug to the opposed face portion of each lug.

14. Means for feeding washers having opposed flat sides, said means comprising a rotary disc receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and having a plurality of outwardly opening peripheral recesses, the bottom wall of each recess extending chordally of the disc and being flat for engagement with one of the opposed flat side's'of the washer, lugs between recesses and upstanding from the surface of the disc, adjacent lugs having opposed face portions of which one face .portion forms a ledge positioning the washer with its center of gravity over the recess a shiftable feed plate receiving on its surface a supply of washers to be fed and havingoutwardly opening edge recesses receiving washers from the surface of the plate, lugs upstanding from the surface of said plate between the recesses and each having a portion thereof projecting over an adjacent recess to hold the washer in the recess, means ior shifting said plate to carry the washers in the recesses successivelyto the assembly point, and the recesses in said plate being adapted to release the washer for movement outwardly relative to the feed plate to withdraw the washer .from beneath the overhanging portion of its holding lug as the plate carries the washers past the assembly point.

CHARLES J. IRWIN.

Patejn t No. '2, 275,782.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.-

February 17, 1%2.

CHARLES J IRWIN.

.I t hereby certified tmt error appears in the printed specification I of the abov e numbprd patent requiring correction as f0 lloyvs: Fag 2, first column, l1ne M1,, after "dow nwardly" insert --therewith.-- and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe re ad with this correction thereix that the game may confoxm to thg re'a'd of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed And sealed this 50mm of June, D. 19h2.

Hmry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Act1ng Commissioner of Patents. 

